Month: May 2024

By Taylor Erdman

Clemson Formula SAE (CUFSAE) is a student-led organization at Clemson that is focused on designing, manufacturing and competing with a formula-style race car. Each year, they design and build a new vehicle from the ground up that meets competition rules while also pursuing innovation. May 8-11, CUFSAE competed in the Formula SAE Michigan competition with their newest race car, the Tiger 24.

Michigan FSAE Competition

The Formula SAE Michigan competition was a chance for CUFSAE to showcase Tiger 24’s capabilities and their astounding efforts. 120 cars competed, making this one of the larger competitions CUFSAE has participated in. Of those 120 cars, the Tiger 24 displayed great competitive attributes finishing 20th in design and 60th overall.

In the midst of the competition, the Tiger 24 required an unexpected engine swap leading to some unforeseen challenges the following day. However, this situation led to new opportunities for learning and improvement, allowing the team to focus on future successes and ultimately strengthen their resilience and determination.

In the Pipeline for CUFSAE

This competition will not be the last chance for the team to display the Tiger 24’s capabilities. They will have the opportunity to further test these abilities in upcoming test days as well as competitions occurring later this year.

Upcoming Competitions:

• Pittsburgh Shootout (September)
• Michelin LPG Shootout (October)
• Barnesville Shootout (November)

There have also been changes to the team, as they have recently elected new team and division leads.

Tier 1 Leaders:

• Team Lead – Rajan Chitrao
• Chief Engineer – Ryan Bishop
• Production Lead – Alec Huber
• Finance and Logistics Officer – William Wei

Additionally, Rowen Smith is the new Sponsorship Coordinator for CUFSAE. With these changes to the team, Smith says that they will aspire to focus on reliability, better teamwork and earlier production for next year’s car, the Tiger 25, which will undergo design this summer.

A part of the Tiger 24’s success has been credited to the support of CUFSAE’s sponsors. The team has expressed their unwavering gratitude towards their sponsors, including the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute (RHBSSI), saying that the sponsors’ continuous assistance and investment gives the team added strength to keep pushing creativity and build the most competitive car they can. We at RHBSSI commend the CUFSAE team on all their successes to-date and wish them best of luck in their upcoming competitions this season.

Be sure to follow CUFSAE on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay current on all of the innovative things they are doing.

By Taylor Erdman

As we dive head first into summer, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is excited to welcome aboard its two newest student interns. Meet Taylor Erdman and Payton Ober, each bringing their own unique talents and fresh perspectives to the Institute.

Taylor Erdman

Taylor Erdman, a senior sports communication major from Eastchester, NY, is the Institute’s marketing and communications intern for the summer. In her role, she will assist RHBSSI staff in procuring, curating, and disseminating Clemson sports science content. She will also develop content for the Institute’s social media accounts as well as the Sports Insight blog.

“I am thrilled about this new and exciting opportunity to work for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute as their marketing and communications intern,” Erdman said. “This is a chance for me to combine my previous experiences and creative ambitions in a way that I hope will help the Institute thrive. I also look forward to educating not just others, but myself, on the sports science at Clemson provided by our amazing faculty fellows and legacy professors.”

Taylor previously served as a marketing and communications intern for Clemson Computing and IT where she oversaw their social media platforms and created engaging content for the Clemson community. She hopes that her experience in this role will bring more followers and engagement to the Institute’s social media channels.

Payton Ober

Payton Ober, a senior graphic communications student from Fort Mill, SC, is the graphic design intern for the summer. Over the course of the internship, she will be tasked with creating logos, graphics, and polished compositions that assist RHBSSI staff in better reaching their audience. Further, she will create a plethora of designs, merchandise, and signage that advertises the Institute’s upcoming events.

“Getting the chance to assist the RHBSSI team in their User Interface, design assets, and printing capabilities is such a great opportunity,” Ober said. “I am so thankful for the chance to utilize my knowledge of design and printing processes in order to build upon their brand and support the Sports Science program. On top of that, I’m also just thrilled to gain a deeper understanding for the inner workings of the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute.”

Payton has an abundance of experience in graphic design; she has been named lead designer for several Creative Inquiry courses at Clemson and has also interned for companies such as Ricoh USA and Olberding Brand Family. She plans to draw on these experiences in order to help the Institute reach more students, as well as prepare for upcoming events within the department.

Two senior Clemson students joined the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science team for the Spring 2024 semester and made significant contributions to the Institute’s mission while gaining valuable experience they will take with them in their chosen career paths.

Lauren Crumley, Events Intern

Graduating May 2024, Crumley served as the Institute’s events intern. In this role, she helped plan all of the Institute’s events for the spring semester, including the annual Robert H. Brooks Lecture in Sports Sciences with United Row, two former Clemson rowers who spoke on Clemson University campus in March.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute this semester!” Crumley said. “Being able to learn more about event planning and operations has been valuable, and I know I’ll be able to take what I’ve learned here into future roles.

“In addition to our main lecture event, I’ve enjoyed getting to work on other special projects and growing skills in areas such as writing and research. As I get ready to graduate from Clemson, I’m excited to see the Institute continue to grow!”

Crumley was a member of Clemson’s rowing team during her three years at Clemson and has accepted a postgraduate internship in championships operations at the NCAA. 

Justin Robertson, Marketing Intern

Also graduating May 2024, Robertson served as the Institute’s marketing intern for the spring semester. He helped create and post graphics for social media and established the Institute’s Instagram page. He also helped develop and distribute promotional items for the Institute’s annual lecture in sports sciences.

“Working for the Institute this semester has taught me so much about marketing, social media and helping grow an organization,” Robertson said. “From creating social media graphics to writing press releases to having a story published on Clemson News, the Institute opened many doors to me that would’ve otherwise been closed.

“Not only was I able to gain extensive experience in these fields, but I also had a great time working with Lauren and the Institute’s staff. Those relationships will be ones I carry with me throughout the rest of my life.”

Robertson served on Clemson University’s student newspaper, The Tiger, all four years as a student. He plans to enter the sports media field after graduation. 

The Institute has hired two interns for the summer and is looking to fill five part-time internship positions for the fall 2024 semester. For more information and to apply, click here.